These days, using someone’s preferred name and pronouns is the best way to demonstrate respect and acknowledgment of their identity, be they straight, gay, or transgender.
However, not everyone adheres to this practice, often clinging to outdated norms or disregarding individuals’ gender identities.
Bennett Kaspar-Williams, 37, from Los Angeles, welcomed their son Hudson into the world via cesarean in October 2020, with the support of their husband, Malik.
Despite Kaspar-Williams identifying as male and using he/him/his pronouns at the time (they now identify as non-binary and use both he/him/his and they/them pronouns) encountered challenges at the hospital when nurses repeatedly misgendered them, referring to them as a mother rather than a father, as per the Daily Mail.
Kaspar-Williams began his transition in 2014 after realizing he was transgender in 2011. The couple made the decision to start a family and carefully considered their options — knowing it would require Bennett to pause the testosterone therapy he had been on for years so his ovaries could resume functioning.
Although Bennett had undergone top surgery, he hadn’t had any procedures on his lower body. After thoughtful reflection, he felt at peace with the idea of carrying a child himself.
Once they began trying, Bennett became pregnant naturally not long after.
”We had only been trying a short while, so we expected the process to take longer than it did,” said Bennett.
